Pickens Running For President?

[rwarn17588]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71



Don't forget, not all the east coast is hooked up on natural gas.  Many large industrial users and homeowners alike still burn fuel oil for heat.

Again, though, you still have to retrofit the oil-burning homes and industries on the East Coast to natural gas. Not an easy proposition.

But I concur with the rest of your response.

In the long term, if Pickens' renewable gamble makes electricity very plentiful and *cheaper*, then you've really got great hook for EV vehicles.

As it is, the Chevy Volt folks estimate that to fill up the electrically charged engine for its 40-mile range would take only 85 cents to $1.35 in electricity, depending on where you live. Not too shabby. Maybe that's what he's aiming at.

[Conan71]

^^ Total agreement.

He certainly isn't going to talk about the trade-out costs in technology.  I think I might have posted a month or so back, the average homeowner in, say, New Jersey would pay about $15 to $20K to change out their home boiler, unless they've got something newer which can have a gas burner plugged into it.

[Red Arrow]

I hate to rain on a parade so I'll just drizzle.

The sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, even in Texas and Oklahoma. Without a storage capability, wind and solar are not dependable enough for the total electrical grid. This is not an original thought, it has been published. I just don't remember where or I would cite it.

Electric cars are a good idea, especially for persons that only make short trips. However..... it still takes a certain amount of energy to make a car go. If you use electricity in place of gasoline, PSO/AEP is going to need to make more juice.  The present electric capabilities will NOT support mass conversion to electric cars. It may be an admirable goal but we aren't there yet.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by bugo


You're insane.  There's no way Obama supporters are going to vote for this guy in large numbers.  He has nothing to offer Obama supporters.  However, there are a LOT of Republicans who are not happy with McCain and would vote for somebody they feel is more "conservative" whatever that means these days.  A Pickens candidacy would guarantee an Obama presidency.

Bugo, keep in mind, I'm really trying to get inside Pickens head.  I did say "out there" So calling me insane is fine w/ me.  I don't think I'm too far off the mark, if it were a Presidential bid or simply a massive endorsement campaign.

The "insane" comment was in no way a personal attack or a comment on anything else you have posted here, it was only in reply to that post.  

quote:

Take a good look at the voter demographics:

Families earning under $50K are likely not involved in the housing crisis unless their income fell drastically into that range.  The one thing which is hurting lower income America and younger people is high gas and energy prices.

I see where you're going, but do you really think that Obama supporters are going to support and trust an *oil man*?  And besides that one issue, what else does he have to offer us Obama supporters?

[rwarn17588]

quote:Originally posted by Red Arrow



Electric cars are a good idea, especially for persons that only make short trips. However..... it still takes a certain amount of energy to make a car go. If you use electricity in place of gasoline, PSO/AEP is going to need to make more juice.  The present electric capabilities will NOT support mass conversion to electric cars. It may be an admirable goal but we aren't there yet.

Actually, several studies have shown the grid can handle it. Most EV vehicles would be charging up at night, when the load is low. It's hard to strain a grid at a time when everyone's asleep and air-conditioning systems aren't working nearly as hard.

Wind and solar power are valuable because both wind and sun are most prevalent in the daytime, and that's the time when the grid is at peak usage. Having those two things adding juice at those times is a huge benefit.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

quote:Originally posted by Red Arrow



Electric cars are a good idea, especially for persons that only make short trips. However..... it still takes a certain amount of energy to make a car go. If you use electricity in place of gasoline, PSO/AEP is going to need to make more juice.  The present electric capabilities will NOT support mass conversion to electric cars. It may be an admirable goal but we aren't there yet.

Actually, several studies have shown the grid can handle it. Most EV vehicles would be charging up at night, when the load is low. It's hard to strain a grid at a time when everyone's asleep and air-conditioning systems aren't working nearly as hard.

Wind and solar power are valuable because both wind and sun are most prevalent in the daytime, and that's the time when the grid is at peak usage. Having those two things adding juice at those times is a huge benefit.

And Red Arrow, you're right that storage capability for times when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing is the crux issue.  The Scientific American suggested, kind of outlandishly, that the excess daytime power could be stored using superheated compressed air in underground caverns, whose heat could be tapped to power the nighttime grid.  Another idea I've heard (and I don't have a cite for it, unfortunately) is storing the energy as superheated water, and then tapping that heat at night.  Don't know if the caverns figure into it or not []

But your point is good:  how to store that daily power?